hit the roof/ceiling

hit the ceiling

To react with extreme anger. Mom will hit the ceiling when she finds out we broke the vase by playing ball in the house again. Mom and Dad did hit the ceiling when they caught me sneaking in from that party. Why do you think I'm grounded? Now, don't hit the ceiling, but I might have put a small dent in the side of the car.

See also: ceiling, hit

hit the roof

To become extremely angry or upset. My parents are going to hit the roof if they find out we had a party here! The boss hit the roof when he saw that we'd already blown through the budget. Dad hit the roof when he saw that I put a dent in his brand-new car.

See also: hit, roof

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hit the ceiling

 and hit the roof

Fig. to get very angry. She really hit the ceiling when she found out what happened. My dad'll hit the roof when he finds out that I wrecked his car.

See also: ceiling, hit

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

hit the ceiling

Also, hit the roof. Explode in anger, as in Jane hit the ceiling when she saw her grades, or Dad hit the roof when he didn't get his usual bonus. The first expression dates from the early 1900s; the second is a version of a 16th-century locution, up in the house roof or house-top, meaning "enraged."

See also: ceiling, hit

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hit the ceiling

COMMON If someone hits the ceiling, they suddenly become very angry and shout at someone. When I told him what happened, he hit the ceiling. Compare with hit the roof.

See also: ceiling, hit

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

hit the ceiling

fly into a sudden rage.

2004 Scarlett Elizabeth Cooper Nuts & Bolts When Dr John Pulaski arrived home that night, he hit the ceiling. ‘Why are you bringing other people into our home?’ he demanded of his wife.

See also: ceiling, hit

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hit the ˈroof/ˈceiling

(informal) suddenly become very angry: Every time I mention Patricia, Sam hits the roof.

See also: ceiling, hit, roof

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hit the ceiling

and hit the roof

tv. to get very angry. She really hit the ceiling when she found out what happened.

See also: ceiling, hit

hit the roof

verb

See hit the ceiling

See also: hit, roof

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.